Come to camp with questions about his job status. Get watched closely throughout the spring. Win a spot at the end.

And after a season in which he made only eight starts due to a pair of injuries, and an offseason in which the Rays signed free-agent RHP Roberto Hernandez to compete with him for the final spot in the rotation, Niemann knew to expect more of the same.

And noticing the group of coaches and team officials flock to watch his bullpen session during Wednesday's opening workouts made it obvious.

"Every year, they're always watching me," Niemann said. "I don't know why. Everyone's always watching me. But that's fine. It took me three pitches and you see the whole kind of migration happen. They going to see (David) Price? No, they're going to watch me. It's all right. It's part of the deal."

Niemann, who was sidelined with a broken leg then a sore right shoulder, said he is healthy, and he showed it during a crisp workout.

"I was very happy with it," he said. "I was throwing a lot of strikes. As far as a Day 1 bullpen session goes, it was probably one of the better Day 1 bullpens I've thrown. I'll take it."

Manager Joe Maddon agreed: "He looked really good. Effortless. Threw the ball where he wanted to. Mixing up different pitches. I saw all that. … He says that he's well, he looks well, we'll just evaluate it as we go on."

ARMS SUMMIT: Maddon was pleased overall with the pitchers' conditioning and form. Among those he singled out were Price, RHP Fernando Rodney, LHP Mike Montgomery (acquired from the Royals), LHP prospect Enny Romero and Hernandez.

"Up and down the line, there's so many good arms," Maddon said. "Everybody who threw today, they all did something pretty good and they all looked to be in great shape."

THE ZO SHOW: INF/OF Ben Zobrist was atypically among the early reporting position players, a combination of wanting to get some extra work since he is playing in the World Baseball Classic and having a few appearances at area churches where he speaks and his wife, Julianna, sings.

"It's just the way it worked out," Zobrist said. "We wanted to get down and get settled a little bit and get started."

The Zobrists had a show Wednesday in St. Petersburg and have another Sunday at First Baptist Church of Tampa, Feb. 21 at First United Methodist in St. Petersburg and Feb. 23 at Lakewood Ranch's Harvest United Methodist.

Also reporting Wednesday were INF/OF Kelly Johnson and OFs Desmond Jennings and Matt Joyce, making it 12 position players in ahead of Sunday's first full-squad workout. OF Wil Myers is expected in camp this morning.

MISCELLANY: A trade remains a possibility for INF Reid Brignac, in limbo after being designated for assignment last week. … Forty of the 42 catchers and pitchers worked out, missing only RHPs Dane De La Rosa (who was invited Monday after clearing waivers) and Juan Sandoval (visa issues). … Maddon and LHP Matt Moore are guests on tonight's Countdown to Opening Day radio show at 7 on 620-AM with Andy Freed and Dave Wills. … The Rays are unlikely to have an interest in 1B/DH Mike Carp, who was designated for assignment by Seattle.

ST. PETERSBURG — The Rays' pitching rotation for the weekend series against the Orioles could have a familiar look: Romo, Romo, Romo.Manager Kevin Cash said using veteran right-handed reliever Sergio Romo as the "opener" in all three upcoming g...

ST. PETERSBURG — Willy Adames was so excited to be in the big leagues, even if was for just a three-day cameo callup. So thrilled to make a smashing debut with a homer on Tuesday. So proud to have his parents and sister fly in from the Dom...

In a way, the timing of RHP Jake Faria's oblique injury seemed manageable in that RHP Nathan Eovaldi is close to coming off the disabled list and can step in. But on the other hand, the Rays finally could have four regular starters. Imagine that.Ther...

UPDATE, 5:32: Faria is looking at at extended absence, potentially into August. Cash said an estimate of 6-8 weeks was on the optimistic side. "From what we found out he got it pretty good," Cash said. "So it could be a little bit longer than t...

UPDATE, 5:18: Ramos' bruised left thumb is feeling better and though he's not in the lineup Cash said he is available for emergency duty. … OF Carlos Gomez was set to run the bases today as the next test of his strained groin. … Cash said...

Whatever pain RHP Jake Faria was feeling as a result of the oblique muscle on the left side he strained throwing a fourth-inning slider to Boston's Hanley Ramirez couldn't compare to the hurt in his heart.Forced to leave Tuesday's game and likely hea...

ST. PETERSBURG — Top prospect Willy Adames is only going to get to stay with the Rays for a few days, so good for him for making the most of it with a home run in his first big-league game, and off Red Sox ace Chris Sale no less.But the good fe...

Marc Topkin's takeaways from Rays 4-2 loss to Red Sox on Tuesday:* The Rays record against a Red Sox team they consider a measuring stick doesn't look very good at 3-8. But, as manager Kevin Cash and several players pointed out, there is some consola...

ST. PETERSBURG — Criticisms of the Rays' latest innovative pitching strategy have piled up since Angels INF Zack Cosart said after Sunday's game that starting RHP Sergio Romo to get the first three-six outs was "bad for baseball.''One of the lo...

UPDATE, 6:04: Cash said the Rays don't know yet if Wendle will be back Thursday or Friday, though with the Sox starting RHP Rick Porcello on Thursday that would make sense. … Cash said OF Carlos Gomez (groin strain) will run the bas...

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Now that the 2016 season is in the books for the Tampa Bay Rays, what will the Rays do in the offseason to prepare for 2017? Which players will be back? Which won't? What additions will be made? Come here to follow Tampa Bay Rays news at Tropicana Field and beyond.